Sunday, January 6, 2013

The wide gate vs. the narrow gate

The list of misconceptions Christians hold about the nature
of the ministry of Jesus (God’s chosen and Anointed One, His Prophet) is varied, and is very
long. And Jesus himself said that there is a “wide gate” most people choose to
walk through that seems far easier to them, and that’s definitely the gate most
people today choose. But that’s not the one he calls us to walk through. We are
to pass through the Narrow Gate of obedience.

This “Wide Gate” belief today often manifests itself in the belief
that we cannot possibly do all the good Jesus tells us that God, our Father and
his Father, wishes us to do. In fact, to even attempt to obey God and God’s
Chosen Prophet, Jesus, is seen by some kind of an affront to God.

This rather perverse doctrine, a house built on the shifting
sands of man’s misinterpretation, makes Jesus a mocker of God, as if he were
“teasing” us little human beings who couldn't POSSIBLY obey God, despite God’s
direct commands to the contrary.

This leads directly to the lazy, Wide Gate of “Easy
Believism” – a belief that all we need do for God is to nod our head in assent
to empty affirmations that we do indeed “believe” in a God, but at the same
time, adopt an aversion to the very goodness, righteous actions and pure hearts
that God calls us to through the ministry of Jesus.

The fact is, when Jesus says “obey me” and tells us that if
we continue in his word (which never passes away) we are “truly” his disciples,
he speaks the Truth. To deny this is to deny Jesus.

As a fully human being, Jesus fully obeyed God. Thus, he
becomes an exemplar for all of us, and his perfection – and call for us to
follow and obey him completely – is a challenge laid down to us. And make no
mistake: If Jesus perfectly obeyed, we may ALSO do it. It is not too hard for
us.

If we pick up this challenge (by taking up our cross every
single day and carrying it) and voluntarily put his easy yoke upon us, we shall
be rewarded by God in the next life.

Jesus himself left us no doubt we could do this, and in fact
commands it of his disciples. John, in his first letter, writes encouragingly
that the one who SAYS he remains in Jesus should walk JUST AS HE WALKED. Jesus
agrees.

Jesus came as a Prophet of God and as a perfect example in
life and death of what God wishes us to be, and called on us to follow him in
all things. That is it. That is the Gospel, or “Good and Beneficial Message.”

It calls for no further mysteries, no complicated Greek
philosophies, no man-made, Lawyerly speculations or endless debates about
others’ interpretations of Jesus' words or any imagined interpretations about
him. It's AMAZINGLY simple. And yet billions are following the Wide Gate
towards destruction by ignoring this Good Message by denying its very
existence, which is incredibly sad. /
Thus endeth the sermon.

Scripture cited:

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the
way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For
the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find
it are few.” Matt 7:13-14

“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to
them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away.” Matt. 24:35

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.” John 14:23

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you
continue in my word, then are
you are truly my disciples.” John 8:31

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way
in which he walked.” 1 John 2:6